Team Profile
Cincinnati Bengals
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13.9% 5thOff DVOA
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35.7% 4thPassing DVOA
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-10.4% 20thRushing DVOA
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10.4% 29thDef DVOA
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20.2% 28thDef Passing DVOA
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-1.1% 27thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For28.3 5th
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Points Against26.3 27th
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Yards Per Game363.0 9th
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Yards Allowed Per Game366.0 28th
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) was unable to practice with the team on Wednesday after stretching. Higgins tweaked his hamstring in the Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday and finished with only one reception for 19 yards a week after going off for a 5-140-1 line. The Bengals don't have anything to play for in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns after getting eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17, so the Bengals won't be in any rush to get Higgins back on the field this weekend. If he doesn't play against Cleveland, Higgins would wrap up a disappointing fourth year with Cincy with 42 receptions for 656 yards and five touchdowns in a career-low 12 games. Tyler Boyd would be the team's No. 2 wideout behind Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) if Higgins ultimately ends up being inactive.
Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss (forearm) was listed as a limited participant for Tuesday's estimated practice report. A right-forearm injury has kept Moss sidelined for the team's last two games, but the 26-year-old could be on the verge of returning for a Week 18 must-win contest at home against the visiting Houston Texans on Saturday evening. Moss may need to put in a full day of practice in the next two days to be cleared to return. He's had his moments this year for the Colts, even after Jonathan Taylor's return, but he'll most likely be looking at backup work and limited offensive snaps if he returns to play this weekend. If Moss is active against Houston, he'll be hard to trust in fantasy lineups.
Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown didn't do a whole lot in the team's Week 17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road. Brown remained the clear backup to Joe Mixon once again and was even out-carried by quarterback Jake Browning seven to three. On his three rushing attempts, Brown had only five yards and caught both of his targets for an additional 23 yards. The 23-year-old only played only one more snap than Trayveon Williams and just 15% of the snaps. The Bengals have gotten Brown more involved in their offense in recent weeks and he's capitalized on a few big plays, mainly on screens. However, Brown has yet to carve out a big enough role behind Mixon to warrant weekly starting consideration in fantasy lineups.
New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki turned six targets into four catches for 35 yards during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. The veteran pass-catcher earned increased opportunities with Hunter Henry (knee) sidelined for the consecutive week. During his brief stint as the Patriots' top tight end, Gesicki has compiled six catches, 50 yards, and one touchdown. Unless Henry misses next week's game against the New York Jets, Gesicki will fall off the fantasy radar.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) finished with one catch for 19 yards in Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The wideout exited briefly because of a hamstring issue. However, he returned, although it didn't make a difference on the fantasy end. After the game, Higgins reported he injured the same hamstring that kept him out of the lineup earlier in the 2023-24 campaign. As a result, there's a good chance he won't suit up in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns, especially since Cincinnati can't make the postseason.